Trinidadian Steel Band Makes Pan Yaad Debut

The sound of steelpan was born in Trinidad and Tobago, but this weekend, its rhythms will bring the Caribbean together in Belize. Pan Yaad returns for the September Celebrations with “Fete and Foam,” featuring some of Belize’s leading steel bands and, for the first time, a visiting ensemble from the birthplace of pan. Trinidadian band 868 Ignition will share the stage with Pandemonium, UB Steel, SJC Rebels, Panerrifix and SCA Unplugged. Organizers say the event will deliver more than entertainment. It will celebrate the history, creativity and shared Caribbean identity carried through every note.

 

Kim Vasquez, Director, Institute of Creative Arts

“It’s a foam and fete, but the foam is completely optional.  We understand that not everybody wants to go with that vibe. It’s going to be a small section. If you want to get in the foam section, you can, if you want to stay dry and enjoy the pan yaad, you can do that too. We have an amazing lineup, of course, it’s the biggest teal pan event of the year for us,  and we also have the last call for tickets.  It’s been a steady flow this morning. You can come to the bliss. You can buy tickets on the quick pass up and also on our own NICH Belize website as well.” 

 

Josef Ward, Band Leader, 868 Ignition

“I’ve been following Paan Yaad since about 2017. So I know that this is one of the premier events happening around Belize celebrations for the, what do you call it, the National celebrations? So we had the attendee, have the kind of, they have the twenty-first coming up and Machal on the twentieth, but we know that Pan Yaad is really the premier event. So coming to be a part of this means a lot, because we get a representation of that, we are the first band that actually come to Belize to perform for this. So we really feel an excited about that.”

 

Tickets are priced at fifteen dollars for adults and five dollars for children.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

Watch the full newscast here: